Stand Up to Racism (NW London) statement on the Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery Desecration. Organisations are invited to sign/endorse the statement

 

From Stand Up to Racism North West London

STATEMENT ON THE DESECRATION OF GRAVES IN THE MUSLIM SECTION OF CARPENDERS PARK LAWN CEMETERY.  

We are appalled to learn that up to a hundred graves, including babies’ graves have been desecrated in the Muslim Section of Carpenders Park Cemetery which belongs to Brent Council.

We wish to express our deepest sympathy with all those whose loved ones are buried in that cemetery. Such vandalism and disrespect is an insult to our whole community.

We condemn this Islamophobic attack and the racist rhetoric from politicians and the media that leads to racist violence. We must see action on Islamophobia and racist attacks now.

We stand in solidarity and unity against all forms of racism, bigotry and hatred. Our community is only strong if it is united.

NW London Stand Up to Racism 

 

IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT, PLEASE SIGN/ENDORSE IT (as an organisation) and circulate it as widely as possible. We hope to organise a vigil or similar event in the near future to unite the community.

Write to: nwlondonsutr@gmail.com

UPDATED with statement by Leader of Brent Council. Muslim community upset over desecration of Muslim graves at Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Islamophobic attack

 

 

 

Thanks to Khalid on TikTok for sending this video via Twitter 

 

Muslim graves at Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Hertfordshire were reported to have been desecrated at the weekend with memorials and plaques damaged including those for children.

 

The cemetery is owned by Brent Council and has a separate Muslim section. As this section was singled there is little doubt that the attack was Islamophobic and should be treated as a hate crime against Muslims.

 

 

 

For the police  Inspector Will Rogers-Overy said:

 

Enquiries are ongoing to further establish the circumstances, and extra patrols have been deployed in the area to reassure the community. Senior officers are working closely with local community leaders, to identify those family members who will be most affected. In the coming days we will engage further with the Muslim community who will have been particularly impacted by this horrendous crime.

 

If anyone has information or witnessed the criminal damage take place, please contact police.

 

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

 

Our thoughts are with the families of those whose graves were desecrated, I cannot imagine how they must be feeling at this moment.

 

This is a very serious incident, and we continue to work closely with Hertfordshire Police to inform family members and bring the perpetrators to justice. I encourage anyone who thinks they have information that will help the investigation to call the Police on 101.

 

It looks as though Muslim graves have been targeted, in what appears to be an Islamophobic hate crime. There is absolutely no place for hate or discrimination of any kind anywhere, but particularly in London – a city where everyone is welcome and our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

 

We will reinstate the damaged name plaques and return Carpenders Park Lawn cemetery to a peaceful, quiet place of remembrance as quickly as possible, once the Police have finished their investigation.

Further information from Brent Council:

  • Up to 100 graves were desecrated, including the graves of children and babies. We understand this happened on Saturday.
• Brent Council has been working with the police over the weekend to make sure everyone who needs to be is contacted, and that work will continue today.
• Hertfordshire Police are treating this as a hate crime.
• Carpenders Park Lawn cemetery is located in Watford but owned by Brent Council.
• Given this horrific incident, Brent Council will now be working closely with the Police to put in place any extra security measures needed to protect the area.

 

A relative affected writes;

 

After hearing the news of graves being desecrated at Carpenders Park cemetery, it was the most gut wrenching feeling. My husband is recently buried in this cemetery and the anxiety and feeling of nausea till we reached the cemetery I can’t begin to describe how my family and I felt. Thankfully my husband’s grave was unaffected but to see the destruction of children’s graves was callous and pure evil. How are these people allowed to get away with this? It’s incomprehensible. My husband is buried there I was too upset to write this till I saw from my own eyes.

 

In a statement released this afternoon Brent Green Party said:

 

Carpenders Park Law Cemetery Desecration of Muslims Graves. 

 

Brent Green Party express our  solidarity with the Muslim community  and call for a full investigation on the basis that is an Islamophobic hate crime totally alien to Brent's values as an inclusive community.

 

The Lawn Cemetery is a general burial place with different sections and non-Muslims have also been affected by the news and have expressed sympathy.  This is one comment in reaction to  this article beig posted on Next Door.

 

This is terrible. Carpenders Park Cemetery is a peaceful resting place for our loved ones of different faiths. I hope they catch the people that did this. Unfortunately it does not have cctv. Both my parents and family friends are buried there. It has a calming feel to it. I have been visiting for over 30 years and I have never heard of this happening before.